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A review by ec_newman
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
3.0
Entirely too many similes. - more later.
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I started with the audiobook, in fact got to the 6th CD of 8 when some scratches on it made it impossible to continue. With a mystery, everything matters and I hated to skip what could be vital info.
The narrator of the audiobook was wonderful. The young, energetic British accent gave life to Flavia and her world. In fact, that (after finishing the book) was and is the most redeeming thing about this book.
Halfway, maybe a bit more through the book, I realized that practically everything was a simile. I could almost predict when Flavia would compare the next thing to something else. While the device is helpful, it really started to grate on my nerves.
I bought the book on my Kindle to finish it and found where I'd left off easily. It wasn't nearly as fun reading it on my own. The audiobook narrator made the story come alive, whereas in reading it on my own, I found it pretty normal/dull.
The answer to this problem, of course, would be to continue with the series and only do it as audiobooks (hoping that the voice stays the same). You'd be right, but unfortunately, I got frustrated with how long it takes to finish an audiobook. Despite enjoying the narrator's interpretation and vocal choices, I kept thinking how much quicker I'd be done if I could just read it on my own.
So, yeah, probably not going to continue, though I suspect my issues with the book are pretty particular to me.
---
I started with the audiobook, in fact got to the 6th CD of 8 when some scratches on it made it impossible to continue. With a mystery, everything matters and I hated to skip what could be vital info.
The narrator of the audiobook was wonderful. The young, energetic British accent gave life to Flavia and her world. In fact, that (after finishing the book) was and is the most redeeming thing about this book.
Halfway, maybe a bit more through the book, I realized that practically everything was a simile. I could almost predict when Flavia would compare the next thing to something else. While the device is helpful, it really started to grate on my nerves.
I bought the book on my Kindle to finish it and found where I'd left off easily. It wasn't nearly as fun reading it on my own. The audiobook narrator made the story come alive, whereas in reading it on my own, I found it pretty normal/dull.
The answer to this problem, of course, would be to continue with the series and only do it as audiobooks (hoping that the voice stays the same). You'd be right, but unfortunately, I got frustrated with how long it takes to finish an audiobook. Despite enjoying the narrator's interpretation and vocal choices, I kept thinking how much quicker I'd be done if I could just read it on my own.
So, yeah, probably not going to continue, though I suspect my issues with the book are pretty particular to me.